Even John Locke (1632-1704), in his Thoughts on Education (1693),
recommends, besides the Psalter and the New Testament, Æsop and
Reynard the Fox, as good food for infant minds. This was an
excellent basis to start upon.
MONTROSE J. MOSES.
ADVENTURES OF REYNARD THE FOX.
Edited by W.T. Stead.
Review. .05
There is no entirely satisfactory edition, for children, of this
classic. The language of one edited by Jacobs seems to the compiler of
this list somewhat unsuited to small people, and E.L. Smythe in her
version substitutes an entirely different ending for that of the (p. 61)
original. This very inexpensive little book has more than a hundred
interesting small pictures, and children will love to read of bad
Reynard, who is told about in diverting fashion.
ÆSOP.
The Fables of Æsop.
Edited by Joseph Jacobs.
Illustrated by Richard Heighway.
Macmillan. 1.50
It is difficult to say what are and what are not the Fables of
Æsop.... In the struggle for existence among all these a certain
number stand out as being the most effective and the most
familiar. I have attempted to bring most of these into the
following pages.--_Preface._
Children cannot read an easier, nor men a wiser book.
THOMAS FULLER.
BROWN, A.F.
The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts.
Houghton. 1.25
These sweet tales of the saints of long ago and their little brothers
the beasts have a gentle influence. The stories include that of Saint
Bridget and the King's Wolf, Saint Fronto's Camels, Saint Rigobert's
Dinner, and Saint Francis of Assisi.
BROWN, A.F.
In the Days of Giants.
Illustrated by E. Boyd Smith.
Houghton. 1.10
The old Norse myths acceptably told.
CARROLL, LEWIS (Pseudonym of C.L. Dodgson). (p. 62)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Illustrated by John Tenniel.
Macmillan. 1.00
First told in 1862 to the little Liddell girls. It was written out for
Alice Liddell, was published, and the first copy given to her in 1865.
The illustrations are those which appeared in the original issue. Many
artists have tried their hand in making pictures for "Alice," but none
have succeeded in displacing those of John Tenniel.
Extract from the diary of C.L. Dodgson: July 4, 1862.--I made an
expedition _up_ the river to Godstow with the three Liddells; we had
tea on the bank there, and did not reach Christ Church till half-past
eight.... On which occasion I told them the fairy tale of Alice's
Adventures Underground, which I undertook to write out for Alice.
"Alice! a childish story take,
And with a gentle hand
Lay it where Childhood's dreams are twined
In Memory's mystic band,
Like pilgrim's withered wreath of flowers
Plucked in a far-off land."
CARROLL, LEWIS (Pseudonym of C.L. Dodgson).
Alice in Wonderland.
Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
Doubleday. 1.40
Those wishing to depart from John Tenniel's illustrations will find (p. 63)
these pictures of Arthur Rackham very interesting. We are given
delightful black and white work, though most of the full-page pictures
are in color.
Enchanting Alice! Black-and-white
Has made your deeds perennial;
And naught save "Chaos and old Night"
Can part you now from Tenniel;
But still you are a Type, and based
In Truth, like Lear and Hamlet;
And Types may be re-draped to taste
In cloth of gold or camlet.
AUSTIN DOBSON.
CARROLL, LEWIS (Pseudonym of C.L. Dodgson).
Through the Looking-Glass.
Illustrated by John Tenniel.
Macmillan. 1.00
The sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The illustrations are
the same as those that appeared in the original edition.
"To the Looking-Glass world it was Alice that said,
'I've a sceptre in hand, I've a crown on my head.
Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be,
Come and dine with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and me!'"
COLLODI, C. (Pseudonym of Carlo Lorenzini).
Pinocchio, The Adventures of a Marionette.
Illustrated by Charles Copeland.
Ginn. .40
Of all the fairy stories of Italian literature this is the (p. 64)
best known and the best loved.... The Florentines call it a
literary jewel, and as such it should be known to all young
readers.--_Preface._
Though children can but dimly comprehend this charming allegory, they
will recognize its truth. Pinocchio, the wayward and mischievous
marionette, through his kindly actions grows to be a real little boy,
with an unselfish loving heart. There are many attractive drawings.
CRUIKSHANK, GEORGE (Illustrator).
The Cruikshank Fairy Book.
Putnam. 2.00
Puss in Boots, Jack and the Bean-Stalk, Hop-o'-my-Thumb, and
Cinderella, are the four famous fairy tales pictured by this famous
illustrator.
JUDD, M.C.
Wigwam Stories.
Ginn. .75
The book is divided into three parts: Sketches of Various Tribes of
North American Indians; Traditions and Myths; and Stories Recently
Told of Hiawatha and Other Heroes. It is interesting and informing.
There are three sketches by Angel de Cora, and many illustrations from
photographs.
LA FONTAINE, JEAN DE.
La Fontaine's Fables.
Translated by Edward Shirley.
Illustrated by C.M. Park and Rene Bull.
Nelson. 1.50
An acceptable selection in verse. There are illustrations in color (p. 65)
as well as in black and white.
"These fables are much more than they appear--
The simplest animals are teachers here.
The bare dull moral weariness soon brings;
The story serves to give it life and wings."
LANG, ANDREW (Editor).
The Blue Fairy Book.
Longmans. 2.00
This first volume of Andrew Lang's colored fairy books contains the
better known tales from the folk-lore of many nations, and is, like
the others of this series, attractively illustrated.
And when the cuckoo clamours six
We put away our games and bricks
And hasten to the shelf where hang
The books of Mr. Andrew Lang.
. . . . . . . . .
And when we read the Red, the Blue,
The Green--small matter what's the hue
Since joy is there in black and white--
Remember him who cared to write,
For little ones, tales old and sweet,
And ask the fairies (when you meet)
To always keep unharmed and well
From ogre's maw and witch's spell,
From genie's clutch and dragon's fang,
The kind magician, Andrew Lang!
ST. JOHN LUCAS.
MULOCK, D.M. (Mrs. D.M. (M.) CRAIK). (p. 66)
The Adventures of a Brownie.
Harper. .60
"Only I think, if I could be a little child again, I should
exceedingly like a Brownie to play with me. Should not you?"
We should all say yes, after reading this charming modern fairy story.
MUSSET, PAUL DE.
Mr. Wind and Madam Rain.
Illustrated by Charles Bennett.
Putnam. 2.00
A famous Breton folk-tale which is made additionally attractive by the
unusual quality of the illustrations.
I will not say that I have added nothing to the unconnected
recitals of the Breton peasants, ... but I have added only what
was necessary to link together the different events, and to
supply passages that were entirely wanting.--_Preface._
PAINE, A.B.
The Hollow Tree and Deep Woods Book.
Illustrated by J.M. Condé.
Harper. 1.50
Mr. Paine writes in his delightful vein of Mr. Coon, Mr. Possum, and
Mr. Crow. The book is always funny, and Mr. Condé's pictures are in
their way as good as the text.
WILLISTON, T.P.
Japanese Fairy Tales.
Illustrated by Sanchi Ogawa.
Rand. .50
These eight wonder stories incidentally illustrate the every-day (p. 67)
life of the people. The Japanese pictures are reproduced in color.
POETRY, COLLECTIONS OF POETRY AND PROSE, AND STORIES ADAPTED FROM
GREAT AUTHORS.
So, in this matter of literature for the young, the influence of
the home teaching is enormous; all the school can do pales before
it. Let the mother add to the poet's rhyme the music of her soft
and beloved voice; let great fiction be read to the breathless
group of curly heads about the fire; and the wonders of science
be enrolled, the thrilling scenes and splendid personalities of
history displayed. Children thus inspired may be trusted to
become sensitive to literature long before they know what the
word means, or have reasoned at all upon their mental
experiences.
RICHARD BURTON.
LUCAS, E.V. (Editor).
A Book of Verses for Children.
Holt. 2.00
Mr. Lucas has shown his unvarying good taste in compiling this
charming volume. Most of the poems are British, and among them are
many delightful old songs and rhymes, verses of bygone days, ballads,
and carols.
WIGGIN, K.D. (S.), and N.A. SMITH (Editors).
The Posy Ring.
Doubleday. 1.25
This admirable collection of poems, chosen from the standpoint of (p. 68)
childish enjoyment, forms a lane of lovely verse leading into the
great highway of literature. The poems are classified under different
headings such as The Flower Folk, Other Little Children, Playtime,
Story time, and Bedtime.